Although I've done a lot of things that were a lot harder in life in terms of physical demand. This may just be one of the toughest things I've done. I'm out of shape, I work from home sitting on my butt and don't get out much so when I decided to climb to 10K on Mt Rainier to ski down on Independence Day, I almost bit off more than I could chew.

After about a quarter of the way there I ran out of steam and was pretty much just digging down deep to keep going with my 55# pack. Yet another good reason to get in shape I suppose ...this climb didn't need to be so hard and would have been over in half the time had I been in good shape.

I am proud of it though since I haven't had to dig down deep like this in about 10 years.

I only wish Monty would have been allowed on the trail. ...and not just because I would have tied the pack to him and made him run up the hill.

"My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban PERMANENTLY as soon as I take office...I intend to work with Congress on a national no carry law, 1 gun a month purchase limits, and bans on all semi-automatic guns."-Barack Obama"When in doubt, whip it out."-Nuge